The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1887-06-08
Fertiizlpx for sreelal Crors.


Correspondence Practical Farmer.l
One variety of plants derive more bene-
fit from an application OF one kind OF fer
ti]izer than another
This is also the csse with soils. The soil
at first may contain all the elements re-
quired to feed almost all varieties of plants,
but after continued cropping for a series OF
years may largely exhaust o portion of
these, and their place must be supplied by
the application of fresh material that will
MAKE up what has been used by the crops.
There can hardly be any question but that
il we could have each kind of soil on the
farm snaly zed, so as to determine just what
is lacking, We could apply the proper ma
terial much more surely than we do. This
course will hardly be considered practical,
because il carried out as it should be
would necessarily have to be repeated
quite often.
Very much of what is best for different
crops have been learned by practical ex-
periments. We know largely what quite
a number of plants require to receive the
best results, and by applying this we can
often measurably increase the yield.
Salt applied broadcast in the spring,
while il may not in one sense be feyti-
Ezer, yet acts upon the soil in such a way
that il aids a combination with material
already in the soil to furnish larger sup
by applying the salt.
Soils that are deficient In lime can be
made fairly good wheat land by applying
a dressing of lime extra full.
Ashes contain considerable potash; this,
of course, is diminished by bleaching, but
even then 1t contains a sufficient amount
to make them valuable to soils that are de-
fcient of this kind of plant food.
have found good application OF ashes,
IA r. ~, a
and working we'll into the soil and then
planting the seed, good way to increase
the yield of the potato crop. They then
are also valuable tn apply after the seed is
sown to onions and satisfy.
Fruit trees, or even the majority of small
fruits are especially benefited bya dressing
Of good wood ashes.
When very early potatoes are wanted, I
have found it good plan to mark out the
burrows and then throw In small torktul
of fresh manure from the stable for each
hill have the potatoes cut three or four
days ahead so as to dry out somewhat,
then drop and cover well with soil, step
ping upon each hill after covering so as to
press the soil firmly down upon the seed.
Potatoes can be planted in this way earlier
with considerable less risk than by any
other plan L have ever tried. Rhubar b
and asparagus will, perhaps, derive more
Deu6Qb from I'll dppl1C1llOu VI 1IeSu uld-
Nure than any other plant; next to them
the cabbage will be benefited. With tue
msjority of garden crops, well rotted fine
manure only should be applied; in default
of this use ashes, commercial fertilizers or
liquid manure. ] prefer using liquid ma
nure to applying coarse fresh manure to
the garden crops.
My experience is that with the larger
proportion of plants II is much better to
apply manure by scattering broadcast and
then thoroughly working into the soil. OF
course commercial fertilizers, when ap-
piled TO cultivated crops, are best applied
in the hill. The principal point to be Sc
cured is to apply in such manner as 70
be most accessible to the feeding roots OF
the plants, and to secure this il is neces-
sary to make fine and then thoroughly
work well into the soil, especially around
the roots, remembering that the roots oil
the msjority of plants extend consider.
able distance from the stem, and in apply
ing manure in the hill this point Is very
often overlooked Make it a rule to make
and save all the fertilizing material post
BILE. Much that is often allowed to go to
waste could pro6tably be gathered up and
made into good fertilizer and applied tc
the land to cid to increase the yield of the
crops, giving as far as possible the kind &c
each crop best adapted to secure the besi
growth and yield.